FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 39 



at Dutch Harbor, a small portion of which has been surveyed and 

 patented. The property of the Alaska Commercial Company at 

 Unalaska is built on a Government reservation on which it has only 

 squatter's rights. For its buildings it should receive compensation. 

 The islands in this chain are devoid of timber. Coal or minerals 

 have appeared only in too small quantities to justify exploiting. 

 Agriculture on any scale to support life is impossible. Grazing is 

 impracticable. There are no good harbors except at Dutch Harbor 

 and Unalaska. Fish are plentiful but the streams are so small that 

 commercial fishing will not pay. In short, there exists no good rea- 

 son why these islands should not be set apart for the use of those 

 aboriginal inhabitants claiming them as their native land. 



2. Trading by private persons or corporations to be prohibited. 



3. The Government to maintain a station at each principal settle- 

 ment, of which there are not over five. Each station to contain a 

 store and a school, with a storekeeper and school-teacher, the whole 

 to be under the supervision of a general agent. 



4. The storekeepers should buy the natives' peltries and such other 

 articles as they may have for sale, including baskets, at a fair price; 

 the native should be encouraged to self-support and thrift. 



5. Small fishing stations could be maintained, the product of which 

 could be marketed for natives' account. 



This plan can be worked out and operated with little trouble and 

 expense. Without some provision of this nature the Aleuts on the 

 Archipelago will be wiped out by disease and lack of food. With the 

 Government willingly expending thousands of dollars to prevent ex- 

 termination of the lower animals, surely no justification is needed for 

 expenditure to prevent the extinction of a race of men who were 

 hardy and self-reliant until brought into contact with European 

 races. 



MANUAL TRAINING FOR NATIVES. 



During the Russian occupation certain native youths exhibiting 

 special aptitude were trained in the useful arts, such as carpentry, 

 boat building, iron and copper working, etc. 



But those natives so educated in Russian times have nearly all 

 died, and the new generation can not build its own houses or boats. 

 No training of this character, although greatly needed, has been pro- 

 vided by our Government. 



Some arrangement should be made to teach the Aleuts how to work 

 at other employments than their natural one of hunting. A teacher 

 of the useful trades should be provided on each of the Pribilof Islands. 

 A small school could also be established at Unalaska, and the young 

 men from the entire archipelago sent there for a course of instruction. 

 I recommend this to careful consideration. 

 59395°— 11 27 



